Shelf and supporting bracket therefor



July 21, 1959 L; D. ORSER SHELF AND SUPPORTING BRACKET THEREFOR 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 11, 1955 INVENTOR. LA WRENCE D. On: ER

AT ORN'EYS July 21, 1959 L. D. ORSER 2,895,617

SHELF AND SUPPORTING BRACKET THEREFOR Filed July 11, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet2 IN VEN TOR. Zn WRA'NCA' D. 0965!? Unite tates Patent 2,895,617 SHELFAND SUPPORTING BRACKET THEREFOR Lawrence D. Orser, Cedar Falls, Iowa,assignor to Chamllierlain Corporation, Waterloo, Iowa, a corporation ofowa Application July 11, 1955, Serial No. 521,180 6 claims. (Cl. 211-93This invention relates to improvements in a shelf and supporting brackettherefor, and more particularly to both the combination of the shelf andthe bracket and the bracket alone, the invention being highly desirablefor use in connection with shelves pivotal from a horizontal to avertical position with the bracket arranged to physically hold the shelfin either of its pivoted positions, the invention being highly desirablefor use in connection with refrigerator shelves, shelves that aretemporarily put in service in various locations, and other numerous andvaried purposes as will be apparent to one skilled in the art. I In thepast, various types of pivotal shelves have been provided, but in allcases of which I am aware, something in addition to the hinge supportshad to be provided to maintain the shelf in operative position, or tohold the shelf against movement in its inoperative position, unless theshelf was left merely hanging freely. When such shelves were utilized inrefrigerator compartments, for example, extra lugs or buttons projectingfrom the Wall of that compartment had to be employed as well as theother supporting members permitting pivotal movement of a shelf. Thosebuttons or lugs entered into the insulation lining of the walls, and byvirtue of their wall support and being in a position to be frequentlybumped or jarred severely, would frequently become loosened or knockedout and replacement is an extremely difficult operation. Obviously, theoriginal cost of the buttons or studs and their installation added tothe cost of production of the entire refrigerator.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the instant invention toprovide a hinge bracket for a shelf which automatically holds the shelfin horizontal supporting position, and also holds the shelf in a pivotedvertical position, without the aid of any other supporting members.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a hinge bracket ofno greater size and embodying no more material than hinge brackets forshelves heretofore known, but which nevertheless automatically andunaided supports the shelf and restrains it against pivotal movementWhen the shelf is in either a horizontal or vertical position.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of a shelfand supporting bracket therefor, with the bracket constructed to supportthe shelf in a plurality of positions and hold the same against pivotalmovement, eliminating the need of other stop or support members,heretofore found necessary.

Another object of the instant invention is the provision of a U-shapedsupporting bracket for a shelf, of no larger size and embodying no moreparts than brackets for similar purposes heretofore used, but which isshaped to automatically support a shelf in either horizontal or verticalposition against undesired movement.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of a supportingbracket for a pivotal shelf, which bracket is so formed as toautomatically support the shelf in 2,895,617 Patented July 21, 1959 "icej 2 substantially horizontal position, but inclined slightly upwardly,so that the shelf will assume a substantially true horizontal positionwhen loaded, owing to the inherent resiliency in the shelf itself.

It is also a feature of the invention to provide a simple form ofsupporting bracket for a pivotal shelf, which bracket is so shaped as toautomatically hold the shelf against undesired movement in either asubstantially horizontal or a substantially vertical position, thenecessary holding engagement being eifeeted by a simple sliding movementof the shelf relatively to the bracket.

While some of the more salient features, characteristics and advantagesof the instant invention have been above pointed out, others will becomeapparent from the following disclosures, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a plan view of a pair ofadjacent shelves each mounted in brackets, which arrangement embodiesimprovements of the instant invention, showing the same diagrammaticallyindicated in position in a compartment of a refrigerator;

Figure 2 is a front view of the structure of Fig. l, with therefrigerator compartment again indicated diagrammatically, andillustrating one of the shelves in horizontal position, and the othershelf pivoted to vertical position;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the right-hand shelf of Fig. 1 in position tosustain a load thereon;

Figure 4 is a similar view of the same shelf, in position for pivotalmovement thereof;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the same shelf, pivoted to vertical position;

Figure 6 is a plan view of the same shelf structure locked in itspivoted vertical position;

Figure 7 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially asindicated by the line VII-VII of Fig. 3;

Figure 8 is a similar transverse vertical sectional view takensubstantially as indicated by the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 4;

Figure 9 is a similar transverse vertical sectional view takensubstantially as indicated by the line IXIX of Fig. 6;

Figure 10 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the associatedbracket taken substantially as indicated by the line X-X of Fig. 3;

Figure 11 is an isometric projection of the supporting and holdingbracket alone; and

Figure 12 is an isometric projection of the associated supportingbracket.

As shown on the drawings:

While it will be understood that the instant invention may be utilizedwith substantially any form of pivotal shelf in substantially anylocation, such for example as a kitchen, workshop, supply room,physicians ofiice, etc., for purposes of convenience and clarity, theinstant invention is herein disclosed and described in association witha compartment of a refrigerator.

The refrigerator cabinet is diagrammatically indicated and embodiesopposite side walls 1 and 2, a rear wall 3, and a top wall 4.

A more specific example of a use for the instant invention is seen moreclearly in Fig. 2, wherein the compartment is provided with a fixedbottom shelf 5. Above that shelf 5 is a pair of edgewise confrontingpivotal shelves 6 and 7 which may be disposed in horizontal position tosupport relatively small items, as diagrammatically indicated at 8 inFig. 2, or which may be pivoted to vertical position to support a tallerarticle as indicated at 9, the shelf 6 having been pivoted to verticalposition so that the tall bottle 9 might rest upon the fixed shelf 5 andproject up above the level of the shelves 6 and 7. In the V 3 event itis desired to place some bulky object, such as a turkey or watermelon inthe refrigerator, both shelves 6 and 7 may be dropped to verticalposition and the bulky article placed upon the shelf 5 withoutinterference from the shelves 6 and 7.

Since both shelves 6 and 7 are identical except for their allochiralcharacter, and are identically mounted, the following description willbe directed particularly to the shelf 7 and its mounting. The shelfitself may be of any desirable construction, and it may have any type ofside bar 10, but in accordance with the instant invention there shouldbe a flattened portion 11, preferably at the front end of that side bar.In the illustrated instance, the side bar 10 is in the form of analuminum'wire of circular cross section, and a part of that wire isflattened to provide the portion 11, which flattened portion should beof greater width than the diameter or cross sectional dimension of thepart 10.

In connection with the instant invention, only a single pair ofsupporting brackets are necessary to adequately support the shelf in amanner permitting the shelf to pivot. It will be especially noted thatthe side walls and rear Wall of the refrigerator compartment are devoidof buttons or studs or any other means to lend support to the shelf whenit is in operating or substantially horizontal position, only the pairof brackets 12 and 13 being utilized.

As seen best in Fig. 12, the rear bracket 12 is substantially U-shaped,comprising a back plate 14 apertured for bolts, rivets, or equivalentmeans to secure the bracket to the compartment wall. From the base 14, apair of ears 15-15 extend inwardly, each ear being apertured to providea circular hole as at 16 in conformity with the circular cross sectionalshape of the side bar 10 of the shelf and sized to loosely accommodatethat side bar so as to permit sliding movement of the side bar throughthe apertures. That particular bracket 12 performs no other functionthan to pivotally support the inner end of the shelf.

The forward bracket 13 is of similar shape, including a base part 17 forattachment to the compartment wall, and a pair of forwardly projectingears 18 and 19 as seen best in Fig. 11. Preferably the inner ear 18 isprovided with a circular hole 20 of the same character as the aforesaidapertures 16 in the other bracket. However, the forward car 19 isprovided with an opening of peculiar shape, substantially a butterflyopening, comprising in the illustrated instance a circular opening withcircle 21 having diametrally opposed projections or indentations 22 and23. The inner edges of these indentations define portions of a smallercircle, substantially of the size of the circular hole 20. The sideportions of the indentations 22 and 23 are preferably straight cut, sothat when the bracket is mounted on the compartment wall, the opening inthe ear 19 defines a pair of substantially vertical shoulders 24 and 25,spaced apart both laterally and vertically; and also a pair ofsubstantially horizontal shoulders 26 and 27 spaced apart bothvertically and horizontally. Those opposed pairs of shoulders are whatholds the shelf 7 in either of its positions against unintentionalpivotal movement.

Now in operation, it will be seen that when the shelf 7 is in itshorizontal load carrying position, the flattened portion 11 of the sidebar 10 contacts the shoulder 24 at the upper margin, and contacts theshoulder at the lower margin, as indicated rather exaggeratedly in Fig.7 for clarity, and thus the shelf is maintained in horizontal loadbearing position solely by the ear 19 of the foremost bracket 13. Now,it should be noted that the shoulders 24 and 25 are not preciselyvertical, but are inclined slightly (too small an extent to illustratein the drawings) so that the shelf instead of being horizontal willelevate at an angle of approximately 2 /2". A shelf of the characterillustrated is somewhat inherently resilient, and the parts are not madefor a tolerance so by angling the shelf slightly upwardly, the shelfwill assume a substantially true horizontal position when loaded.

If it is desired to drop the shelf, it is a simple expedient to graspthe handle portion 10 at the front of the shelf, slide it forwardly fromthe position seen in Fig. 3 to the position seen in Fig. 4, where theflattened portion 11 is clear of the bracket 13, and then the shelf isfree to rotate on the side rod 10 to the position seen in Fig. 5. Theshelf may next be pushed inwardly to the position seen in Fig. 6, when,from the showing in Fig. 9 it will be apparent that the flattenedportion 11 abuts the shoulders 26 and 27, and so the shelf is heldfirmly in vertical position against accidental or unintentional pivotalmovement. In order to again raise the shelf to horizontal position, thereverse of this procedure is followed, following the illustrations inthe order of Figs. 6, 5, 4 and 3.

From the foregoing, it will be noted that I have provided a simple andeconomical shelf and supporting bracket therefor. Even with the old typeof shelves, where some extraneous parts were utilized to support theshelf in horizontal position, such as studs or buttons projecting fromthe adjacent side and rear wall of the compartment the shelf was in, thetwo brackets of the character of bracket 12 were necessary anyhow. Inthe present case, all studs or buttons or extraneous supporting meanshave been eliminated, and only two brackets are utilized, one of thosebrackets being different than those heretofore known, but not costingany more to manufacture or in stall. Also, no different movement of theshelf in order to change its position is entailed by the instantinvention, since heretofore it was necessary to slide the shelf a shortdistance in order to clear the extraneous supporting means so that theshelf might be pivoted from one position to the other.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effectedwithout departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the presentinvention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, a shelf having a frame member circular incross-section and with a flattened portion of substantially rectangularcross section and of increased width, and a U-shaped bracket havingoutstanding ear portions with openings therein in horizontal axialalignment through which said frame member is axially slidable, theopening in one car being circular with a cylindrical wall, the openingin the other ear being a butterfly type defined in part by projectionstherein extending of substantially zero,

inwardly with spaced straight edge portions against which said flattenedportion may abut in a plurality of pivoted positions of the shelf toform the sole means to hold the shelf in each position and said shelfbeing pivoted to other positions when said flattened portion is free ofsaid bracket.

2. In combination, a shelf having a side member generally circular incross-section but having a flattened portion of substantiallyrectangular cross-section and of greater width, a supporting U-shapedbracket having ear portions each having an opening therein in axialalignment and in which said member is entirely slidable and the circularpart is pivotal, the opening in one car being circular, the opening inthe other ear being defined in part by projections extending inwardlytherein with edges disposed to provide opposed abutment for saidflattened portion of rectangular cross-section to restrain the sameagainst further pivotal movement when said shelf is in either ahorizontal or vertical position.

3. In combination, a shelf including a side rail member of circularcross-section having a flattened portion thereof of substantiallyrectangular cross-section, said flattened portion being of greater widththan the diameter of the remainder of the side rail member, a U shapedsupporting bracket having a base and two projecting ear portions, oneear portion having a bore substantially of the same diameter as thediameter of the circular por- 'tion of the side rail, the second earportion having a butterfly type opening in horizontal axial alignmentwith said bore in said ear portion and provided with projectionsextending inwardly thereof, said flattened portion of said rail memberadapted to contact said projection in said opening when the shell is inhorizontal or vertical position thereby restricting pivotal movement ofthe shelf, said flattened portion in combination with said projectionssolely supporting said shelf against pivotal movement, and said siderail member slidable axially through said opening to remove a flattenedportion from the bracket and permitting movement of the shelf when theflattened portion is clear of the bracket.

4. In combination a shelf having a frame member of circularcross-section with a flattened portion of substantially rectangularcross-section of increased width, and a supporting bracket having a pairof ears with openings therein, one of said openings being of a butterflytype with projections therein extending inwardly and through which saidframe member is axially slidable, 'said frame member being arranged topivot about the .axis of both of said openings, said butterfly typeopening with projections therein being shaped and embodying ;saidprojections to provide a pair of opposed shoulders for abutment by saidflattened portion when said shelf is :in substantially horizontalposition, and another pair of :shoulders for abutment by said portionwhen said shelf .is in vertical position, but permitting movement of theremainder of said frame member when said flattened portion is clear ofthe bracket.

5. In combination, a shelf including an inner frame :member having twoportions of different cross sectional shape and having a shelf structureextending outwardly therefrom, a major portion of said frame memberbeing circular in cross-section and a minor portion of said frame memberbeing rectangular in cross-section and of greater width than said majorportion, and a U-shaped supporting bracket having ear portions withopenings therein through which both portions of said frame member areslidable, the opening in one car being circular with a cylindrical wall,the opening in the other ear having circular Wall portions and havingprojections therein extending inwardly therefrom, accommodating onlysaid major portion to pivot relatively to said bracket about the commonaxis of said frame member and said openings, and said frame member beingaxially movable along said openings to engage said minor portion ofrectangular cross-section with said projection, and retain said shelf inload sustaining position by the overhanging weight of said shelf.

In combination, a shelf including a side member of circularcross-section having one minor portion substantially rectangular incross-section and of greater width than the remaining major portioncircular in cross-section, and a supporting bracket having parallelspaced ears with axially aligned openings therein, both of said portionsof said side member being axially slidable horizontally through oneopening, said opening being of a butterfly type defined in part byprojections extending inwardly from the periphery thereof with edgesforming abutments to hold said rectangular part against pivotal movementrelatively to said bracket when said shelf is in a horizontal supportingposition but permitting pivotal movement of the remaining major portionof said side member after axial withdrawal of said minor rectangularportion from said opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS259,390 Hensley June 13, 1882 1,017,488 Zimdars Feb. 13, 1912 1,487,218Douglass Mar. 18, 1924 1,505,192 Gervais Aug. 19, 1924 1,838,653 BergmanDec. 29, 1931 1,891,250 Thompson Dec. 20, 1932 1,908,469 Aanerud May 9,1933 1,995,983 Hesse Mar. 26, 1935 2,287,611 I-Iarbison June 23, 19422,498,557 Lantz Feb. 21, 1950

